[C320-list] Refrigeration Diagnostics Assistance

[Jack Brennan]

Hi Ken:

The unit should be in the port stern locker. I don’t know what model fridge you have, so it would be a good idea to get some ID off the unit and look up the manual.

Usually, there are three possibilities. 1) No power is getting to the unit. 2) The thermostat is dead. 3) The unit has died of old age.

The first thing to check (after disconnecting the 110 volt cord) is the electrical panel. Use a multimeter or test light to make sure that adequate voltage (12+) is entering and coming out of the breaker. It’s also possible the one of the red wires came off the breaker. 

The Cold Machine that came with my boat also had one or two car-type fuses on the small computer board mounted on the Cold Machine. The manual should tell you how to disconnect it, test it and determine whether the thermostat is bad.

If the unit is bad, which is very possible after 18 years, the best choice is just to replace it with a new unit. They are much more efficient and draw a lotless amperage.

Good luck.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Ken McCrimmon
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2021 2:40 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Refrigeration Diagnostics Assistance

Hi
10 days ago, I left KIA ORA (2003 Catalina 320) plugged into shore power with the fridge running. with a couple of beers and some water.
I came back this weekend and the fridge was not running.  The switch was still on and the shore power plugged in.  I know that the yard would have unplugged to boat to do some other work during the week.
Normally, I can hear the compressor running but nothing.  I checked the thermostat, I reset the switch on the electrical panel, nothing seemed to make a difference.
I tried to find the compressor.  I thought it might be in the port locker but what i thought might be the compressor was actually the battery charger.  I did not look in the port stern locker.  Did not think about that until now.
I put a block of ice in the fridge for the weekend, which created another problem, lots of water in the bottom of the fridge.


  1.   Is there a fuse or circuit breaker that i should be checking?
  2.  Anybody know where else to look for the compressor?
  3.  I thought there was a drain for the fridge (based on some other reading on the C320 Association site) but I could not find it.  I tried to get the water out manually (jcloths, tea towels, etc)  I either need a manual pump or really big sponge.  Is there a drain in the cold box and if so, is there something i need to do to open it.  Assume it drains into the bilge.

I tried getting into the 320 site to do more research but i am having password issues today

Thanks
Ken